Ocean Sentry
A juvenile humpback whale which swam into the Gold Coast Broadwater yesterday, sick and starving, has died overnight, washing up on the beach at Runaway Bay. The whale – which is believed to have been between 12 and 18-months-old – was found washed up just north of Bayview Marina.
Rescue crews from Sea World, Volunteer Marine Rescue, water police and the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries spent all day yesterday trying to herd the sick whale back out to open water.
Director of Marine Sciences at Sea World Trevor Long said the animal was most likely swept into the Broadwater by the tides as it was weak and underweight.
Crews monitored the whale until dark and then planned to begin their efforts again at first light.
There were fears the whale would have to be euthanased if it beached itself, however nature made the decision and the animal died on the beach.
Mr Long said the whale had an injury on its tail most likely from a rope it had possibly been dragging for many months, and had not been eating.
He said the whale was extremely dehydrated and was about half the 10 to 12 tonnes it should have been at his age.
“It’s a disappointing end whenever we see animals die like this,” he said.
(From goldcoast.com.au, Australia, by Hayley Sultanie)
